School checking out home before 4 yr old starts school

Support from me for Aka's comments at 8.19. I'd like to add that the majority of sw care about, and try and improve the lives of children for whom they have responsibility. I expect I'll be criticised for daring to make a positive comment about sw, particularly given the news coverage of the dreadful events in Rotherham

But Nfk - a home visit could have been really helpful in your case. Your dd could have explained fully your dgs's situation about not knowing anyone and about her not speaking unless spoken to. I agree that an hour wasn't long in the school - in our area, the children have several visits and of course, the arrangements for the first weeks of school are relevant. Our schools do phased, time limited days to start with.

Well said Aka. In any occupation or profession thete are those who do who do not meet the highest standards, but it does seem to be open season on teachers and social workers in many threads on here.

aka I agree that the majority of experienced teachers will be able to spot a child in need and take further action, but perhaps those newly qualified may not be so alert to problems - and if it was my DD I would be quite worried about her making such home visits in some areas.

That is why I think smaller primary schools serving the local area are so much better than the enormous primary schools I have been reading about on here.
I too, was extremely saddened and surprised to hear of some recent cases that could have been picked up on by the class teacher in the first instance.

Oh come on Rose - you're just looking for nits to pick . What on earth makes you think for one minute that a school would use NQTs to do home visits?

And as for worrying about you DDs safety - heavens above, I don't suppose for one minute the school ever stopped to think about that! They would have no awareness of the stupid 'elf and safety would they? Or the concept of a risk assessment?

NQTs are sometimes reception class teachers. If it's the reception child's teacher that does the home visit and the teacher is an NQT....

But the point of the visits is not to pick up clues about neglect or otherwise, we keep being told; it's to help the child recognise the teacher as a friendly face.

apparently

G2 Oh come on Rose - you're just looking for nits to pick . What on earth makes you think for one minute that a school would use NQTs to do home visits?

No, not at all, and if the idea is to meet the reception class teacher who could be a NQT ....

Were you a teacher, G2, if so did you do home visits? If so, the visit could have made some nervous children even more nervous about starting school. Recognising the teacher as a friendly face

If the idea is to see the teacher as a 'friendly face' then a home visit is of no value whatsoever; the teacher can be very friendly during a school visit where the child and parent/carer can see together what the school environment will be like and who will be the new and very important person in the child's life.

If having a differing view from someone else is 'nitpicking' then there is no point in anyone posting at all, is there?
Therefore no point in GN really.

Yes, I'm really and truly bothered by all this paranoia. There seems to be a feeling among some on this thread that it's a 'them and us' situation. Your child's teacher is going to be a very important person in their life for the best part of a year. They ought to ave your respect and support. A good home-school relationship will help your child.
Homes where teachers and SW are slagged off are not going to give the child the sense of safety they need.

An NQT would not be allowed to do a home visit on her own.

I just wonder about this. I spent many years supply teaching in some very difficult schools and there were families you wouldn't want to visit, families who wouldn't let you in their house anyway and some very helpful, friendly families. It wasn't difficult to work out which was which and it certainly didn't take a home visit. It sounds like someone's bright idea, another initiative, with all the relevant paper work/meetings/assessments. I find myself agreeing with a colleague who always said, "Teachers belong in the classroom, teaching". OMG that probably means I am really getting old!

Nit picking usually occurs when someone is losing an argument and so makes inconsequentiall, irrelevant and/ or unsubstantiated points. It's not about having a different point of view

Eg - you've spent an hour on the phone and you promised to help with the cooking. It wasnt an hour, it was 59 minutes

Oh Rose we really are feeling defensive now aren't we?

Tries her - are you aware of the genesis of the policy of home visits? Thought not

Trisher I meant of course

trisher it's NOT about finding out 'which are which'...as you put it. If course teachers soon suss out what kind of families children are from. Most parents want the best for their child and all teachers (at least the ones I've worked with) accept that. In fact it's often the poorest families and immigrants who actually want their children to 'do better than I have'. And I've met a fair few dysfunctional families among the better off, where parents are too busy or tired to give their children the support they need.

This is not a spying exercise, it's a home-school liaison exercise and a way to INVOLVE the parents in their child's education from the very beginning. [exasperated emoticon]

Rose please don't get upset. Honestly all I'm trying to do us trying to explain that we're not the enemy and these home visits are done with the best of intentions. I sense you have issues with teachers and SWs but most of us are kind, caring people who are trying to do our best.

Too many 'tryings' but I think you get my drift.

As an aside....I do wish the QWERTY keyboard didn't have the U I and O so close together as I keep getting my vowels in a twist

Aka Rose please don't get upset
Not at all upset with you, Aka! And most of us (I hope) are having a sensible discussion about this.
In fact, not upset at all - just a bit of tit for tat with another poster.

No issues with teachers and SWs at all - sister was a teacher for all her working life and very experienced; could suss out problems and ask for further action if she thought necessary; she sat in on many case conferences but I don't know that she did any home visits. DD is a trained teacher (not primary) but is not teaching at the moment. Many of my friends are/were teachers.
I did start my SW training years ago (no issues with the fact that I didn't finish it, just that family things got in the way). I worked with social workers at a time when the ethos seemed to be changing.

Parents are already involved in their kids' education. They are involved in the child's education from day one of the child's life. Being involved in the child's schooling is not the same thing. I do wish people wouldn't talk as if what is taught in schools is all of a child's education; it's only a small part of it.

G2 this isn't a right or wrong argument so no-one can 'lose' the argument.

If these home visits stopped from today would anyone other than those people who have an appointment for one know or care? Would we notice a difference in kids that started to manifest itself from this year's reception intake? Doubt it.